Part 8 (2/2)

your cousins.” He gathered her up, amazed and baffled at how easily she

cuddled against him. ”You have a family now, Emma.”

When he walked inside, still carrying her, he heard Bev's light, quick

voice.

”I think the blue, the plain blue. I can't live with all these flowers

growing on the walls. And those beastly hangings have to go. It's like

a cave in here. I want white, white and blue.”

He turned into the parlor doorway and saw her sitting on the floor,

dozens of sample books and swatches around her. Part of the wallpaper

had already been stripped, part of the replastering was finished. Bev

preferred tackling a single job from a dozen angles.

She looked so small and sweet sitting amid the rubble. Her dark cap of

hair was cut short and straight to angle down toward her chin. Big gold

hoops glinted at her ears. Her eyes were exotic, both in shape and

color. They were long-lidded with gold lights flecked in pale seagreen.

She was still tanned from the weekend they had spent in the Bahamas. He

knew exactly how her skin would feel, how it would smell.

She had a small triangular-shaped face, and a small angular body. No one

looking at her sitting cross-legged in snug checked pants and a tidy

white s.h.i.+rt would suspect she was two months pregnant.

Brian s.h.i.+fted his daughter in his arms and wondered how his pregnant

lover would react.

”Brian, I didn't hear you.” She turned, half rising, then went still.

”Oh.” Her color drained as she stared at the child in his arms.

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